Calais, France - Protesting French sailors on Tuesday forced the suspension of Eurotunnel services between France and Britain in both directions after torching tyres on the tracks, causing traffic and travel chaos.
The demonstrations also sparked a scramble among some of the thousands of illegal migrants camped in Calais hoping to reach Britain, as they battled to hitch a ride on stationery vehicles.
"We have been notified that protesters have gained access to rail tracks which means that for safety reasons Eurotunnel have to temporarily suspend their service," said the firm.
A Eurotunnel spokeswoman told AFP protesters had "got onto the tracks and were burning tyres."
The tunnel is used for drivers travelling between Britain and France, whose cars are transported on special trains, as well as for Eurostar passenger train services.
Eurostar said on its website: "We are sorry but we are currently unable to run any trains because Eurotunnel has been closed following a fire caused by MyFerryLink demonstrators outside the tunnel."
"Severe delays likely, further details to follow," added the firm.
The protesters already managed to occupy the docks in Calais port, preventing passengers from disembarking and forcing ferries to be diverted to the nearby port of Dunkirk.
Two MyFerryLink boats and a P&O ferry were stuck in the port.
Earlier Tuesday, police broke up a sit-in on the A16 motorway leading up to the Channel Tunnel, with two protesters hospitalised after the operation.
Authorities deployed tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, who burst into a rendition of the French national anthem, the Marseillaise, as they were moved on.
Demonstrators also burned tyres and crates outside the port, sending thick black smoke pluming into the air as tailbacks stretched several kilometres (miles).
Some of the thousands of illegal immigrants camped in Calais and desperately trying to cross the Channel to reach Britain took advantage of the chaos to climb onto immobilised vehicles, said an AFP reporter on the scene.
According to a source in the port, around 50 people prevented passengers from disembarking from a DFDS ferry from Britain in the early hours of Tuesday morning and the boat was forced to return to Dover in southern England.
Later ferries were being diverted to the port of Dunkirk.
AFP
